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The Effectiveness of Cognitive and Behavioural Treatment of Chronic Pain in the Elderly: A Quantitative Review

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Abstract

This study provides a meta-analytic review of cognitive and behavioural interventions for chronic pain in the elderly, focusing on treatment effectiveness. Included in the analysis are studies in which a comparison was made either to a control condition or to pre-treatment. A total of 12 outcome studies published or reported between January 1975 and March 2008, were identified involving participants 60 years and above and providing 16 separate treatment interventions. The analysis indicated that cognitive and behavioural interventions were effective on self-reported pain experience, yielding an overall effect size of 0.47. However, there were no significant effects of cognitive and behavioural treatment on symptoms of depression, physical functioning and medication use. Methodological issues concerning design, outcome measures and treatment are discussed and recommendations for future studies are outlined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Pain Clinic, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    Linn-Heidi Lunde

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7807, 5020, Bergen, Norway

    Linn-Heidi Lunde & Inger Hilde Nordhus

  3. Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Ståle Pallesen

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  1. Linn-Heidi Lunde
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  2. Inger Hilde Nordhus
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  3. Ståle Pallesen
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Correspondence to Linn-Heidi Lunde.

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Lunde, LH., Nordhus, I.H. & Pallesen, S. The Effectiveness of Cognitive and Behavioural Treatment of Chronic Pain in the Elderly: A Quantitative Review. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 16, 254–262 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-009-9162-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-009-9162-y

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